2 Corinthians 13:5-6 (WEL) So examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Don’t you, yourselves, know that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test? 6 I am confident that you will know that we are not failures.
V5 So examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Don’t you, yourselves, know that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?
The Greek word examine is G3985 πειράζω peirázō, which means to test thoroughly. How do we examine ourselves? We examine ourselves by 1) did I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 2) did I have a realization of my sin, 3) did I really believe, and 4) was there a change in my attitude and life? Some theologies expand this into a legalism of “have I done enough good works to prove that I am one of the elect?” This false idea destroys assurance.
The Bible teaches assurance because I believed and trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, I still believe today, and I will believe tomorrow. I began by faith in Jesus Christ, I still live by this faith, and for all eternity I will live by faith.
John’s first letter to the churches was written primarily for this very thing (1 John 5:13).
Dr. Henry M. Morris writes, “Paul here reminds the Corinthians—and us—that it is quite possible for a man or woman to profess Christ and salvation, yet still be unsaved. They may even deceive themselves into thinking that such a profession has saved them. Therefore, we need to examine ourselves, to prove ourselves. The sure proof is the realization that Christ is indwelling us, by the Holy Spirit, resulting in godly lives and glad acceptance of all the revealed Word of God, as inspired by the same Holy Spirit.”
V6 I am confident that you will know that we are not failures.
Paul states that the Corinthians should know by now that Paul and his evangelistic team are not reprobates.
(Holman Commentary) “Anticipating his opponents’ objection, Paul assured the Corinthians that they would discover that Paul and his company had not failed the test. Paul evidently expected some people within the church to question his own Christian living. In response, he admitted that even he needed to continue demonstrating saving faith in Christ, just as the Old Testament patriarchs had to demonstrate their faith through testing (Genesis 22:1).”
We learn:
- The New Testament does give us a test if we are in the faith.
- The New Testament does teach us we can have assurance that we are Christians.
Questions:
- Are you in the faith?
- How do you know this?